Bladder stones are hard masses of minerals in your bladder. Bladder stones develop when urine in your bladder becomes concentrated, causing minerals in your urine to crystallize.
Some people with bladder stones have no problems — even when their stones are large. But if a stone irritates the bladder wall or blocks the flow of urine, signs and symptoms can develop. These include:
a) Lower abdominal pain
b) In men, pain or discomfort in the penis
c) Painful urination
d) Frequent urination
e) Difficulty urinating or interruption of urine flow
f) Blood in your urine
g) Cloudy or abnormally dark-colored urine
Reaching a diagnosis of bladder stones may involve:
- A physical exam. Your doctor will likely feel your lower abdomen to see if your bladder is enlarged (distended) and, in some cases, perform a rectal exam to determine whether your prostate is enlarged. You should also discuss any urinary signs or symptoms that you're having.
- Analysis of your urine (urinalysis). A sample of your urine may be collected and examined for microscopic amounts of blood, bacteria and crystallized minerals. A urinalysis also helps determine whether you have a urinary tract infection, which can cause or be the result of bladder stones.
- Spiral computerized tomography (CT) scan. A conventional CT scan combines multiple X-rays with computer technology to create cross-sectional images of your body. A spiral CT speeds up this process, scanning more quickly and with greater definition of internal structures. Spiral CTs can detect even very small stones and are considered one of the most sensitive tests for identifying all types of bladder stones.
- iv. Ultrasound. An ultrasound, which bounces sound waves off organs and structures in your body to create pictures, can help your doctor detect bladder stones.
- X-ray. An X-ray of your kidneys, ureters and bladder helps your doctor determine whether stones are present in your urinary system. But some types of stones aren't visible on conventional X-rays.
- Special imaging of your urinary tract (intravenous pyelogram). An intravenous pyelogram is a test that uses a contrast material to highlight organs in your urinary tract. The material is injected into a vein in your arm and flows into your kidneys, ureters and bladder, outlining each of these organs. X-ray pictures are taken at specific time points during the procedure to check for stones. Spiral CT scans are generally done instead of an intravenous pyelogram.
Aadil Hospital Doctors team offers Open Surgery and Endoscopic stone removal.
Open Surgery: Include
- Pyelolithotomy: Removal of a stone from the Kidney.
- Ureterolithotomy refers to the open or laparoscopic surgical removal of a stone from the ureter.
- Vesicolithotomy: Open or lapaopscopic surgical removal of a stone from the bladder.
Endoscopic stone removal : Include
- Retrograde interarenal surgery (RIRS): Removal of a stone form the Kidney
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy( PCNL): is a minimally-invasive procedure to remove stones from the kidney by a small puncture wound (up to about 1 cm) through the skin.
- Ureterorenoscopy and Pneumatic Lithotripsy (URS): removal of a stone form ureter
- Lithnolapsy: Removal of a stone from Bladder
Consult at Aadil Hospital for appropriate medical and surgical treatment
